Art has been an integral part in the lives of Nagas. The beautifully hand woven bags, ornaments, decorative spears, tablemats, baskets etc., have all been an essential part of Nagas ethnic life.
In order to revive these artistic skills in children, Hope Centre, Kuda village, Dimapur conducted a four-day ‘Autumn Art Workshop’ from September 26 to 29 with Wi Pawee Panjinda (Ph. D in fine arts) from Thailand and Robert James (MA. fine arts) from Nagaland.
On the concluding day, an intimate art exhibition and interaction was held displaying the creative works of the students and an interaction with the child artists and teachers.
Vibrant works of the children on leaf print (print making technique), water colour painting (painting technique), clay modeling (3D sculpture technique) and glass painting (glass paint technique) taught during the workshop were put on display.
Commissioner Secretary Department of tourism, art and culture, Himato Zhimomi (IFS) who graced the occasion as chief guest, emphasized on the need to revive the lost artistic skills of the Nagas evident during the forefather’s time.
Stating that art was not new to Nagas, Zhimomi lauded the initiative taken of Hope Centre to inculcate art education among children, adding, it was a good opportunity for children to be taught by professionals though there were no institutions to teach children in the past.
Encouraging the children to take up arts as a form of career, Zhimomi said art was one field where the government cannot do much to help a person as art is an inborn talent that should come from the heart. He then urged the children to be visionaries and bring back the “art culture” to the society.
While briefing the gathering on the workshop, Panjinda said that the workshop was initiated to inspire students in Nagaland to take up arts as a career saying art education was not only about painting but comprises of different varieties.
Stating that the world needs art to make it colourful, Panjinda added that art education was an honourable profession
Also addressing the gathering, James said art was something which can develop creativity in a child and help elaborate their imagination.
Asserting that art was not only about pencil and colours, James said children should be encouraged to take up arts as a profession.
Director Hope Centre for excellence, Zubeno Mozhui while expressing gratitude to the gathering said the centre has been striving to inculcate excellence in its students.
Pointing out that excellence does not come through mediocre input and efforts, Mozhui said the centre have been giving extra effort to achieve excellence.
The workshop was initiated to stimulate the children’s thoughts and that since verbal expression was less in the state, the centre decided to organize the workshop to help children articulate their thoughts into works, said Mozhui.
Altogether 23 children participated in the workshop and they were awarded with certificates by the chief guest.